10/25/2004 @ 3:00PM

The Top Earners For 2004

As a rock-and-roll icon, Elvis Presley simply has no peer. Neither does
Elvis Presley Enterprises
, the for-profit organization that runs business affairs for his estate. EPE says that revenue was flat at $40 million, and claims it is split evenly between admissions to Graceland, licensing, merchandising and entertainment licensing. Elvis’ image is used to sell everything from
American Greetings
cards to
Zippo
lighters. Next up, a clothing line and Broadway musical based on the King’s music. — Lisa DiCarlo

There may not be any new Peanuts cartoons–those now running in 2,400 newspapers are recycled from the 1970s–but there’s always a new licensing gimmick. This year it’s retro fashions, so Peanuts-emblazoned clothing is everywhere from
Wal-Mart Stores
to
H&M
. Snoopy and the gang appear on one in five
Hallmark
cards; the beloved beagle also is a pitchman for
MetLife
and
PepsiCo
. The Peanuts empire may be sprawling, but it’s still very much a family business. Schulz’s survivors get creative approval on every project. Next up is the 40th anniversary of A Charlie Brown Christmas in 2005. — Penelope Patsuris

The battle for Middle Earth came to a close with the last film of Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings series, The Return of the King. The Ring may have been destroyed but plenty of wealth was created:
New Line Cinema
grossed nearly $3 billion on the trilogy. The author’s estate gets a slice of that and of home video sales, but merchandising was nary a glint in Gollum’s eye when Tolkien’s contracts were drawn up. So it’s doubtful his heirs will see any of the $700 million that movie tchotchkes have grossed. Book sales peaked in 2002, but they still put $9.5 million in estate coffers this year. A film based on The Hobbit may now be in the works. — Penelope Patsuris

The Lennon estate will mark the 24th anniversary of his assassination by releasing two new recordings: a remastered edition of the 1975 covers classic Rock ‘N’ Roll, and a compilation of acoustic performances aptly titled Acoustic. But the real money still comes from the Beatles. Last year’s Naked, a stripped-down version of the band’s Let It Be album, sold nearly 5 million copies worldwide. In November,
EMI
will release The Capitol Albums Vol. 1, a box set of the first four Beatles albums. Two theatrical productions will add to the till: Lennon, a musical, will open next summer; plans are underway for a Beatles-themed
Cirque du Soleil
show. — Peter Newcomb

The past year was a good one for
Seuss Enterprises
but should have been blockbuster, given the hype surrounding The Cat in the Hat. Instead, its second feature film was savaged by critics and over-marketed with product tie-ins. It pulled down less than half of the first Seuss feature, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, at the box office. But Geisel’s widow, Audrey, is known as a shrewd negotiator, and may have received as much as 5% of the movie’s gross. Add in book sales (millions of Seuss titles are sold annually), TV rights, art sales, the Seuss Landing theme park and all the Seuss-themed merchandise, and you have a certified juggernaut. — Lisa DiCarlo

More than 42 years after her death, Marilyn Monroe continues to be an iconic standard-setter when it comes to sex and glamour. Some of the major campaigns of the past year include
Visa
,
Aliz International Luggage
,
HMY Airways
,
Volkswagen
and
Physicians Form
cosmetics. More than half of the business comes from companies outside the U.S.
CMG Worldwide
, which manages and represents Monroe’s estate, has signed on more than 150 new partners since last year. Marilyn left everything she had to famed acting coach
Lee
Strasberg
Lee Strasberg
, whose wife took control of Marilyn’s estate when he died in 1982. — Lisa DiCarlo

Harrison doesn’t get a songwriter credit for the bulk of the Beatles repertoire, but the Fab Four guitarist penned some memorable tunes: “Here Comes the Sun,” “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” “Taxman” and “Something.” His estate collects a one-quarter share of the royalties paid on every Beatles album sold, which last year approached 9 million units worldwide. It also enjoys the proceeds from Harrison’s solo output, which includes songs such as “My Sweet Lord,” and “Give Me Love.” In February,
EMI
released The Dark Horse Years, 1976-1992, a box set sure to find its way into holiday gifts this December. — Peter Newcomb

Born Israel Beilin, young Berlin sang for pennies in the streets of New York. Landed his first major hit with “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” in 1911. Over the next five decades, Berlin would produce a repertoire that defined American music: musicals (Annie Get Your Gun), jazz standards (“Cheek to Cheek,” “Puttin’ on the Ritz”) and novelty tunes (“White Christmas,” “God Bless America”). Along with huge publishing royalties, Berlin’s heirs also own half of the historic Music Box theater in New York. Broadway producer Kevin McCollum is currently gearing up a theatrical version of Berlin’s 1954 movie classic White Christmas. — Peter Newcomb

As the reggae legend achieves sainthood in the music world, his prodigy have become shrewd entrepreneurs in Miami. Under the
Tuff Gong
label, the Marley clan slices and dices and reissues every album in the Marley catalog. But nothing outsells Legend. Since its release in 1984, the greatest hits compilation has sold more than 20 million copies and remains a staple on the record charts (yes, it too was augmented and re-released in 2002). Vintage Marley, the flagship store operated by son Robby, sells all things Bob, including the Original Rude Bwoy fashion line. — Peter Newcomb

While studying at the Manhattan School of Music (now Juilliard), Rodgers composed short pieces with upper classmate lyricists Oscar Hammerstein II and Lorenz Hart. After school he teamed with Hart, first to write musicals (A Connecticut Yankee), then Hollywood scores, a partnership that yielded such standards as “The Lady Is a Tramp,” “Bewitched,” “My Funny Valentine,” and “Isn’t It Romantic?” After Hart’s death in 1943, Rodgers joined forces with Hammerstein to pen Broadway hits Oklahoma, The Sound of Music, South Pacific, and The King and I. They were among the first artists to retain ownership of their master recordings. — Peter Newcomb

Brothers born to Russian immigrants Morris and Rose Gershovitz became a prodigious songwriting team. George composed the music, older brother Ira supplied the lyrics. They had early hits with satirical musicals (Strike Up the Band, Porgy and Bess), but their reputation–and lucrative royalties–was made with infectious standards: “Summertime,” “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off,” “Someone to Watch Over Me,” “They Can’t Take That Away From Me.” After George’s death, Ira collaborated with such composers as
Kurt
Weill
Kurt Weill
and
Jerome
Kern
Jerome Kern
. But both Gershwins, and their fortunate heirs, will be inextricably linked to their biggest hit, “Rhapsody in Blue,” which is used in ads for
United Airlines
. — Peter Newcomb

It’s been 34 years since he was found dead in his hotel room, but the avatar of the electric guitar remains as popular as ever: More than a million Hendrix records are sold worldwide every year. His flagship trio, the Jimi Hendrix Experience, released only three albums during his lifetime, but a steady release of repackaged old songs, rare studio gems and live concert performances gives fans dozens of albums to choose from. The Hendrix estate, which just ended a long-running legal feud between the guitarist’s brother and stepsister, makes millions more through publishing royalties and Hendrix-related merchandise. — Peter Newcomb

Vienna-born Loewe scored early with song “Katrina” at age 15. Moved to America, hooked up with lyricist Lerner in 1942. Tepid success with musicals until Brigadoon in 1947; Broadway hit led to movie adaptation featuring
Gene
Kelly
Gene Kelly
. Collaborated on Paint Your Wagon (turned into a movie starring
Clint
Eastwood
Clint Eastwood
), then shattered box office records with My Fair Lady in 1956. Final effort, Camelot, opened in 1960, became forever linked to the presidency of
John Fitzgerald
Kennedy
John Fitzgerald Kennedy
. The movie, starring
Richard
Harris
Richard Harris
and
Vanessa
Redgrave
Vanessa Redgrave
, was released in 1967. Their musicals remain popular draws in revival performances around the world. — Peter Newcomb

The movie version of Porter’s life, De-Lovely, flopped at the box office, pulling in only $14.2 million worldwide. The soundtrack, featuring artists like
Diana
Krall
Diana Krall
, fared better, hitting number 70 on
Amazon.com
‘s sales rank and sparked new interest in classic gems like “So in Love,” “You Do Something to Me” and “Night and Day.” Forty years after his death, Porter’s music lives on through re-recordings, sales of sheet music and revivals of musicals like Kiss Me, Kate and Anything Goes. Ironic, since he is said to have pooh-poohed the notion of a trust, believing that his songs wouldn’t earn more than a few hundred dollars. — Lisa DiCarlo

Dean’s earnings were essentially flat last year despite new endorsements with the likes of
Nikon
and
FRJ Jeans
. That’s on top of more than 50 endorsements with a broad range of companies worldwide. Sources say next year’s earnings will be “significantly higher” as the estate prepares for the 50th anniversary of his death.
Warner Brothers
is planning a DVD box set of Dean’s movies, plus a documentary of his life that will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May. Business planners for the estate, whose prime beneficiary is cousin Marcus Winslow, are also working with airlines, media companies and others on anniversary-related promotions. — Lisa DiCarlo

Nascar
‘s merchandise sales hit $2 billion in the last year, and in large part the sport has Dale Earnhardt Sr. to thank for that. Earnhardt is credited with having elevated racing from cult status to nationwide craze, and even in death he remains one of the sport’s three most popular drivers, along with son
Dale
Earnhardt Jr.
Dale Jr.
His estate’s income, though significant, hasn’t had the same staying power. Still, the teams that bear the name of the seven-time Winston Cup champion remain winners on the track; last year the three teams racing for Dale Earnhardt Inc. had over $15 million in winnings. — Penelope Patsuris

Who needs record stores when you have the Internet? Though a handful of Grateful Dead records still enjoy lively sales through traditional means, the bulk of the band’s music sales are done online at www.dead.net. Since Garcia’s death, more than 30 live performances have been released, most under the “Dick’s Picks” moniker. Third wife Debra Koons Garcia actively runs the estate, forcing surviving band members to drop the word “Grateful” from the band’s name for subsequent projects. Now sells “Pure Jerry” products–live solo Garcia shows, lithographs, wine and other merchandise–through www.jerrygarcia.com. — Peter Newcomb

Though many of his fans may cringe at the thought, the late lead singer of Queen must be dancing in his grave now that his operatic rock has found a new home on theatrical stages around the world. Since opening in London’s Dominion Theatre in 2002, the musical We Will Rock You has been filling theaters in Australia, Spain and Russia. In September the show opened at the Paris Las Vegas hotel, which helped boost global tickets sales to more than $1 million a week. Mercury’s estate, headed by longtime friend Mary Austin, keeps an estimated 1.5% of the box-office receipts. — Peter Newcomb

More prolific in death than in life, Tupac Shakur has released seven albums since he was gunned down on the Las Vegas Strip in 1996 (his murder remains unsolved). Last year his estate released Tupac: Resurrection, a documentary produced by his mother; the soundtrack sold 1.4 million copies. Another album is due out in November, and then, Inside a Thug’s Heart, a book of letters and poems written during Tupac’s stay at Riker’s Island prison. All the proceeds from
Makaveli Branded
, the fashion line launched last year by his mother, go to his charity, the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation. — Matthew Miller

Jennifer
Lopez
J. Lo
and
Janet
Jackson
Janet Jackson
get more headlines, but Sinatra sells more records–25 million in the U.S. alone. This year Sinatra fans will be treated to a new holiday package with The Frank Sinatra Christmas Collection, an 18-track compilation that includes a few never-before-released recordings. There’s also a new CD included in Sinatra Treasures, a biography published in tandem with Bulfinch. The disc will contain several previously unreleased live performances culled from concerts from the 1940s through the 1970s. Daughter
Nancy
Sinatra
Nancy
(“These Boots Are Made for Walkin’”) not following in daddy’s footsteps: recently added U2 material to her set list. — Peter Newcomb